Round-up | NEWS


Retailers face toughest Christmas in a decade


THE BRITISH Retail Consortium has warned that there will be “more gloom than glitter” in what may be the toughest Christmas trading period in decades.


The BRC also pointed out that many consumers are delaying the purchase of more expensive items.


BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson warned: “As the cost of living for consumers continued to rise, retail sales slowed in October. Many people look to be delaying spending, particularly on bigger purchases. Energy-efficient appliances continued to fly off the shelves as people sought future cost savings.” Although total sales increased in October by 1.6% against an increase of 2.3% in 2021, non-food sales decreased by 1.2%, with online sales suffering most with a 6.3% decline. For October, non-food sales were in decline year on year. Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, warned that the figures need to be carefully interpreted. He said: “Despite the price of goods being higher than 2021, retail sales during October grew by just over 1% in value year on year. This increase is being driven by inflationary pressures and does not tell the true picture of sales volumes dropping as consumers purchase fewer products per shop.” He added: “Given the economic headwinds, it is unlikely that the usual festive boost will be enough to counteract the ongoing issues that retailers face with rising costs, squeezed margins and falling demand.


“Many may feel that they have little choice but to reduce prices to hold onto customers but with their own inflationary pressures to contend with, bumper promotions before Christmas could damage already tight margins further. Retailers are facing possibly their toughest festive season in a decade as shoppers look to trade down, search out bargains and purchase less.” The BRC’s Dickinson also pointed out that retailers will be facing their own inflationary pressures as well as consumers. She said: “Christmas will come later than last year for many and may be more gloom than glitter as families focus on making ends meet. Retailers face an additional government-imposed £800m inflationary increase in their business rates bills next year, so the Government should freeze rates and reform the broken transitional relief system to alleviate cost pressures that are feeding through to higher prices.”


HPP expands production facilities


HILL’S PANEL Products (HPP) has invested in new production facilities to move the manufacturing of some door ranges to the UK.


A kitchen door collection currently being imported from Europe is to be extended by a new range manufactured in-house at HPP’s Oldham HQ.


The range is part of the Avanti off-the-shelf collection and will be called Juno. It is a skinny shaker, which offers the style of a traditional shaker but with thinner stiles. Juno will be available in four matt decors: dust grey, black, indigo blue and highland green and in approximately 60 SKUs, including doors, drawer fronts, end panels, cornices, plinths and filler panels in a wide variety of sizes. Dan Mounsey, HPP’s marketing and


December 2022 ·


business development director, said: “We’ve had Brexit, the pandemic and now the state of the economy, which makes the exchange rate between sterling and the euro unfavourable. Add in logistics, the cost of fuel, lead times, and the availability of materials, bringing in doors from the continent ticks a lot of the wrong boxes. Taking into the account those pressures; we’ve decided to manufacture in-house.” “Because we’re manufacturing in-house, there will be a made-to- measure option as well, which will make this range unique. So, for example, customers could order 90 per cent of what they need off the shelf and then have the rest made-to- measure. It creates great versatility.” Meanwhile, HPP is helping raise £10,000 for a charity that supports young people and families in Oldham affected by the cost-of-living crisis.


7


BEST KITCHEN GADGET


“


Our winner quickly became a favourite addition to our white goods lab during testing, offering easy installation and quick access to fi ltered and boiling water. The 4N1 Touch was also praised for its versatility, with the awards team noting,


‘ it’s the tap that does everything you could want’.


”


Boiling water? It’s ready for you. Filtered water? Sure, just tap the button on the front. A stylish model, available in multiple colours and tap designs, this is a great add-on to any kitchen.


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